What is something you’re proud of?

Danielle | Tāmaki Makaurau

Danielle reminds us that change often begins with showing up, listening, and sharing space.

“Lots of people have grown up not really knowing about Te Tiriti o Waitangi, what it means, or what is important about Te Tiriti o Waitangi to all of us.

We had an opportunity last year to dive deeper into that and to get people thinking about their own context. We thought about it from a faith perspective as well, because we’re a faith-based organisation, we’re a Catholic organisation. And so we got people to reflect on Te Tiriti, what it means to us, why it’s important to honour it.

We went across the Harbour Bridge and walking with everybody felt very empowering for me as Māori/Pākehā, and having a bit of an academic background in some of these issues. To embody that, to walk with everybody – that kotahitanga. I felt proud of our team, but I also felt proud of everybody who was able just to get out there. I think that was a really special moment in our history. But also that our organisation and our community could be a part of that.

I’m used to people and I’m used to sitting down and having kōrero and eating together. And actually, I’ve been a part of a lot of communities – intentional communities in different houses – where we welcome people off the street or different kaupapa like that.

I think sometimes when you’re doing the mahi, you think, ‘Oh, we’re not doing enough, we could be reaching out to more people’ or maybe feeding more people or whatever it is. And actually, it takes a while, it takes hindsight usually for me to know that the simple act of just being there consistently on a Wednesday night when people come to your house and know that you’re there, that’s actually enough. It’s community. And I think we lose that sometimes when we’re really focussed on the goal or whatever we’re working towards.

But sometimes it’s just having a cuppa tea.”